Epic battle for first place in NFC West. What’s that? OK, OK, the league spin doctors have been getting to me. … Niners, averaging a paltry 223 yards per, need to get TB Frank Gore out of the blocks. And what better team to do it vs. than Seahawks? He ran for 356 yards last season vs. Seattle. Counterpart Shaun Alexander will play with broken bone in left wrist.

Tony Romo in 13 games as a starter: 9-4 with 3,501 passing yards, 24 TDs, 12 INTs. Plus, he is NFL’s top chick magnet. *(non-

Brady category) … Cowboys the outfit to beat in the Junior Varsity Conference. Or maybe you missed their act in Chicago.

Prediction: Cowboys 27, Rams 16

Green Bay at Minnesota

11 a.m., KDVR-31, Packers by 1 1/2

Roll out the barrel! Pack has won seven straight dating back to last season. … Brett Favre tied with HOFer Dan Marino with 420 career TD passes. … Vikings nails on D, having allowed NFC-low 36 points. As for their offense, did I mention they’ve allowed NFC-low 36 points?

Prediction: Vikings 19, Packers 18

Tampa Bay at Carolina

2 p.m., off the board

Game off board because of uncertain status of Panthers QB Jake Delhomme. If he doesn’t go, David Carr will make startin’ debut for Cats. … Bucs’ Cadillac Williams running like a ’74 Pinto, averaging just 3.5 yards per going into this one. … Carolina DE Mike Rucker on league’s unofficial most underrated list. Dude has one fewer career sack (52.5) than all-pro teammate Julius Peppers (53.5).

Prediction: Bucs 12, Panthers 10

Pittsburgh at Arizona

2:15 p.m., Steelers by 6

Memo to Cardinals players near and far: If you want to keep your gig, bring it today. Ex-Bill Cowher assistants Ken Whisenhunt and Russ Grimm, bypassed for team’s HC job, want to kick the Pitt out of Steelers. … Cardinals QB situation “weird,” to use Kurt Warner’s word. He’s running the no-huddle offense, Matt Leinart the regular version. … Willie Park leads the league with 368 rushing yards. Not bad for a guy who couldn’t start at North Carolina.

Prediction: Steelers 31, Cardinals 24

Baltimore at Cleveland

11 a.m., KCNC-4, Ravens by 4 1/2

If Bill Gates really wants to make some coin, he ought to sell “Romeo Must Go” T-shirts outside the stadium in Cleveland. … Looks like Browns TE Kellen Winslow Jr. a no-go for this one. … Putting the special back in special teams: Ravens have two punt returns for TDs in first three games.

Prediction: Ravens 34, Browns 27

Kansas City at San Diego

2:15 p.m., Chargers by 11 1/2

LaDainian Tomlinson and Larry Johnson averaging 5.1 yards a carry – between them. No, really, I’m not making this up. Johnson is at 2.8 per, L.T. at 2.3. … Tomlinson last seen yelling at QB Philip Rivers. Johnson, meanwhile, is all over Chiefs coaches for team’s lousy offense. What, like everyone else isn’t in K.C.? … Bolts coming off back-to-back losses. Last two times that happened, they won by 21 and 22 in next game. Of course, Norv Turner wasn’t running things then.

One more epic conquest and Raiduhs match 2006 total. … Oak not sure which marginal talent to go with under center, Josh McCown or Daunte Culpepper. … Say, didn’t you used to be Trent Green? He hasn’t been the same since nasty concussion and trade to Phish. … Raiders TB LaMont Jordan has racked up 100-plus yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career.

Prediction: Dolphins 23, Raiders 17

Chicago at Detroit

11 a.m., Bears by 3

Bears coach Lovie Smith has pulled the plug on Wrecks Grossman, inserting Brian Griese as his starting QB. Memo to the Lovemeister: Be careful what you ask for, m’ man. … Bears minus-6 in turnovers and next-to-last in offense. … Lions QB Jon Kitna sticking to his prediction of 10 wins. Not only that, he says a blizzard is about to hit Honolulu.

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